Trumpet



March 13, 1928. 1,662,076

J. B. NE WMAN TRUMPET Filed June 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheetl \J O m Q Inventor ripe OZ E/in Ma &\

Attorney March 13, 1928. 1,662,076

J. B. NEWMAN TRUMPET Filed June 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attorney Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRUMPET.

Application filed June 10, 1927. Serial No. 197,885.

The present invention has reference to an improved musical instrument, and has more particular reference to a novel slide valve actuator for use upon such instruments as trumpets, cornets, altos, and analogous instruments of the wind family.

For the sake of illustration, the invention is embodied in a trumpet, it being understood that it may well be incorporated in similar wind instruments with equal advan-- tage and success.

Many trumpets now marketed are equipped with fin er rings built rigidly on the valve slide. bme instruments have them on the first valve slide only, others on the third valve slide, and still others have them on both the first and third slides.

The purpose of the ring in either instance is to permit manipulation and adjustment of the slide with a view toward permitting the sound wave passa e to be shortened or lengthened, at the wil of the performer in order to play in tune.

With the present style of valve slide actuating means, it is necessary to push the valve slide back with the hand that holds the instrument. This is a very awkward move, cramps the players hand, and makes it very difiicult to keep the instrument in correct playing position.

Usually, the means can only be used in very slow passages of music and many players will not attempt to use this feature at all. Instead, they will try to make up the difierence in tone by forcing the tone with their lips. This is not only tiresome, but produces a bad quality of tone.

Continually playing in this manner results in disability to produce round and pleasant tones in proper pitch. Finally, it breaks down the performers embouchure and reduces endurance.

My principal aim, therefore, is to substitute for the ring slide valve control, an improved manually manipulated mechanism, which is practical and efiicient and capable of use in exceptionally rapid passages in music.

I do not aim to create a new instrument, but to merely supplement the ordinary, instrument with a means that is capable of being built in, attached to the slide valve in a manner not to interfere with the existing details.

Broadly, the invention has reference to a finger control means for gradually and positively opening the slide valve, and automatic means for returning or closing the slide valve. cated in a convenient place for easy actuation by one of the fingers of the hand which holds the instrument in playing position.

The particular details of the improved mechanism as well as their association and arrangement of parts will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trumpet embodying slide valve actuators on the first and third slides.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view showing the mechanism more in detail, indicating in dotted lines, the manner in which it is manipulated.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the finger controlled lever removed and the spring return means exposed.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken approximately upon the plane of the line H of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, it will be seen that the reference character 6 designates generally the customary tubing forming a passage for the sound waves, this terminating at one end in a shank for reception of the ordinary mouth piece 7, and terminating at the opposite end in'the conventional bell 8. Embodied in the tubing, we find the usual piston valves 9, 10 and 11 respectively.

The reference characters 12 and 13 represent generally the first and third valve slides respectively, these being in communication with the first and third piston valves. Here, I might state that in accordance, with my idea, the improved slide valve actuators may be built on both the first and third valves, 12 and 13. However, a description of one will suffice for both.

The control means being loill) To this end, it will be seen that the reference characters A, designate the rigid tube section, upon which the ei-shaped slide 15 is slidably mounted. As before stated under ordinary circumstances, this slide is pro vised with a rigid linger ring for pushing it in or out to vary the effective length of the sound wave passage.

ln accordance with the present invention however, the ring is eliminated and the improved mechanism shown is substituted.

Specifically, the mechanism embodies a finger controlled lever, generally designated by the reference character 16. The lever is pivotally mounted as at 17 on a lug 18 formed on the tubing 6. The lever is arranged above the pivot and on one side it is formed with a linger hook 19 and formed below the pivot with a wing-lilre portion 20, provided with teeth providing a pinion sec tor.

This pinion sector is located forreception in an elongated box-like part 21 formed in tegral with one branch of the slide 15. lL0- cated in this box is a rack 22, the same being constructed for cooperation with the pinion teeth. Ubviously, as shown in Fig. 2, by grasping the finger hoolr l9 and moving the lever in a direction from right to left, to the dotted line position for instance, the pinion sector ano rack serve to provide and move the slide out or to openpositi'on.

It is of course necessary in orcer to render the device eliicient, to provide means for automatically resisting this opening move ment and returning the slide to closed posi" tion, the means for accomplishing this end being represented in Fig. 3. lt will be noticed here that a cross piece 23 is formed integral with and bridges the tube section it. l astened by a tube 24L to this cross piece is a small spring anchoring arm 25 to which one end of a coiled contraction spring 26 is connected, the opposite end of the spring beconnected with a toothed bar 27 extending through an opening formed in the complemental cross piece 28. lncidentally, this cross piece is formed with a single tooth 29 forming a lreeper withwhich the teeth on the bar 27 may be selectively engaged,

Moreover the outer end of this bar 28 curves slightly and is formed with a lingergrip 30, it will be noticed that this linger grip is located so that it will not easily be engaged by obstructions accidentally releasing the bar. Also, it is so located as to facilitate grasping and manipulation.

lt is evident that with this arrangement, the tension Or the spring 26 can be regulated to render the action of the device more or less sensitive as desired, lTastened in any suitable manner by screws or the like to the sections let, are small cover plates 81, which cover plates are arranged in spaced parallelisni :torm housing conceals and encloses the spring and its regulating means.

It follows that the spring means is hardly noticeable in the actual construction of the invention. Hence, the appearance of the lilstrument is not detracted from by the presence of this invention.

From the foregoins description it is obvious that by placing the finger in the hoolr 19, the lever 16 can be rocked about the pivot 1? to bring the pinion sector and rack into play. Thus the slide 15 can be projected to the desired degree while playing.

Ehe action of the lever is resisted by the tension of the spring, thus making the 0peration of the device very positive. More over, by proper manipulation of the lever, the slide can'be allowed to return gradually or rapidly to its normal position, as desired. This result may be accomplished without cramping the hand or making it necessary to hold the instrument in an awkward position,

The advantages of a device of this class will be quite clear to persons familiar with instruments of this class. For this reason, a more lengthydescription is thought on necessar Minor changes in shape, size, and rear rangement of parts may be resorted to within the scope oi. the adjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. in a musical instrument of the class described, a trumpet embodying customary piston valves, each including a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a slide valve for at least one of said piston valves, said slide valve including spaced parallel rigid branches, anda ll-shaped slide mounted thereon, a linger actuated lever pivotally mounted on a part of the trumpet adjacent said slide, a rack carried by said slide, and a pinion carried by said lever and engageable with said rack.

2. in a musical instrument of the'class described, a trumpet embodying customary piston valves, each including a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a slide valve for at least one of said piston valves, said slide valve including spaced parallel rigid branches, and a ll-shaped slide mounted thereon, a fin er actuated lever pivotally mounted on a part of the trumpet adjacent said slide, a rack carried by said slide, and a pinion carried by said lever and engageable with said rack, together with adjustable spring means for resisting the actuation of said lever and for returning said slide to normal closed position. 7

3. ln a structure of the class described, a trumpet embodying a slide valve including spaced parallel rigid branches and slidably mounted ti -shaped slide, spring .means located between said branches and having adjustable connection said slide,

m" be) ill) 19 cated between said branches and having adjustable connection with said slide, a rack carried by one arm of said slide, a pivotally mounted lever having finger operating means and a toothed sector, the teeth of which are in mesh with the teeth of said rack, and removable cover plates for housingand concealing said springs.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH B. NEWMAN. 

